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PM Narendra Modi wraps up ‘successful’ Tokyo tour

Calling his Japan trip as ‘successful’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up the five-day tour and left for New Delhi on Wednesday.

The five-day tour of Japan by Modi, which felt like a special odyssey steeped in culture and bonhomie, started on Saturday when Japanese PM Shinzo Abe flew from Tokyo to Kyoto, to specially receive him, which was unprecedented.

External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin also posted a picture showing how the entire staff of the hotel where PM Modi was staying, gathered to bid farewell.

Speaking at the Indian community reception held in his honour, PM Modi didn’t forget to mention the ‘trillions’, referring to the 3.5 trillion Yen (USD 35 billion or 2,10,000 crore) promised by Japan to India over next five years for various developmental works.

“There has been talk about billions and millions. But there has never been talk of trillions,” he said.

“This visit has been very successful,” Modi added.

Besides promising 3.5 trillion Yen to India, the two countries also decided to enhance cooperation in defence and other strategic areas and also signed five pacts covering defence exchanges, cooperation in clean energy, roads and highways, healthcare and women while vowing to take their relationship to newer level.

Japan also lifted ban on six Indian entities including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which had been imposed in the aftermath of 1998 nuclear tests.

During the five-day visit, his first outside the subcontinent since becoming PM in May, Modi invited Japanese investments while hard-selling India as a conducive destination for business particularly for the manufacturing sector.
He told the Japanese businessmen that India was awaiting the investments with a ‘red carpet’ and not ‘red tape’ as rules and procedures have been eased by his government.

Winding up his official programme yesterday, Modi had expressed gratitude to Japan for reposing “trust” in India and demonstrating its friendship with a quip “yeh fevicol se be zyada mazboot jod hai (this bond is stronger than that of fevicol)”.

During the talks between Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, the two sides agreed to enhance their defence and strategic cooperation to a new level and also decided to speed up negotiations on civil nuclear deal that could not be concluded now.

Striking good personal chemistry, the two leaders had “very fruitful” exchanges.
Abe also went out of his way to receive Modi in Kyoto when he went there on August 30 in the first leg of his 5-day tour.

In Kyoto, a pact was signed under which Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi would be developed on the pattern of Kyoto ‘smart city’ with the help of Japan.